The 2016 Major League Baseball Draft began on Thursday in Secaucus, New Jersey and will run through Saturday June 11. A total of 17 NCAA players were selected throughout the first night and Louisville led with three players.
The Cincinnati Reds selected Tennessee third baseman Nick Senzel with the No. 2 overall pick. Regarded as one of the best hitters in this year's draft class, Senzel completed a three-year career in Knoxville with a .332 career average and a .508 slugging percentage. During his junior season, Senzel finished with 74 hits, 59 RBI and a .352 batting average.
1ST ROUND (2ND OVERALL): Congratulations to @Vol_Baseball's Nick Senzel on his #MLBDraft selection by @Reds! #Vols pic.twitter.com/fKcZIO22CL
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) June 9, 2016
Louisville outfielder Corey Ray became the second NCAA player taken with the Brewers' No. 5 overall pick. His speed has come in handy for the Cardinals with his 44 stolen bases, and he is currently hitting .325. Ray and the Cardinals will face UC Santa Barbara in the Super Regionals on Saturday.
UofL's Corey Ray becomes the highest draft pick in school history, first top 10 pick from Chicago since 1989. #L1C4 pic.twitter.com/U2b0OHomGH
— Louisville Baseball (@UofLBaseball) June 9, 2016
The Oakland Athletics added Florida pitcher A.J. Puk with the sixth overall pick. In his 70 innings pitched this season, Puk has struck out 95 batters and has allowed 25 earned runs for a 3.21 ERA. The Gators will look toward Puk in the super regionals against Florida State.
First off the board for the #Gators: LHP AJ Puk
— Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 9, 2016
Headed to the @OaklandAs w/ the No. 6 overall pick. Congrats AJ! pic.twitter.com/5zvqTsTgQZ
Stanford pitcher Cal Quantrill went eighth overall to the San Diego Padres and became the 31st first round pick in program history. Quantrill finished his Cardinal career with a 2.57 ERA and 118 strikeouts.
No. 8 overall! @cal_quantrill47 selected 8th in the first round by @Padres #MLBDraft » https://t.co/AsgGTHksV3 pic.twitter.com/8afyWfFGnG
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) June 10, 2016
The Chicago White Sox selected Miami (Fla.) catcher Zack Colllns with the No. 10 pick. The junior leads Division I with 69 walks this season and ranks top five in on-base percentage. Collins and the Hurricanes will face Boston College in the first Super Regional game on Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
AGENT ZERO IS OFF THE BOARD!
— Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) June 10, 2016
Zack Collins was just drafted NUMBER TEN OVERALL to the @whitesox! #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/5tVbaGT3Q6
The following NCAA players were selected in the first round of the amateur draft.
| Player | School | MLB Team | Selection | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Senzel | 3B | Tennessee | Cincinnati Reds | 2nd Overall |
| Corey Ray | OF | Louisville | Milwaukee Brewers | 5th Overall |
| A.J. Puk | LHP | Florida | Oakland Athletics | 6th Overall |
| Cal Quantrill | RHP | Stanford | San Diego Padres | 8th Overall |
| Zack Collins | C | Miami (Fla.) | Chicago White Sox | 10th Overall |
| Kyle Lewis | OF | Mercer | Seattle Mariners | 11th Overall |
| Matt Thaiss | C | Virginia | Los Angeles Angels | 16th Overall |
| Justin Dunn | RHP | Boston College | New York Mets | 19th Overall |
| TJ Zeuch | RHP | Pittsburgh | Toronto Blue Jays | 21st Overall |
| Will Craig | 3B | Wake Forest | Pittsburgh Pirates | 22nd Overall |
| Eric Lauer | LHP | Kent State | San Diego Padres | 25th Overall |
| Zach Burdi | RHP | Louisville | Chicago White Sox | 26th Overall |
| Cody Sedlock | RHP | Illinois | Baltimore Orioles | 27th Overall |
| Dane Dunning | RHP | Florida | Washington Nationals | 29th Overall |
| Anthony Kay | LHP | Connecticut | New York Mets | 31st Overall |
| Will Smith | C | Louisville | Los Angeles Dodgers | 32nd Overall |
| Dakota Hudson | RHP | Mississippi State | St. Louis Cardinals | 34th Overall |